The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-17
OUR CONSTITUTION.

One hundred years ago to-day the Consti-
tion of the United States was promulgated by
the convention presided over by George
Washington in the city of Philadelphia, and
the anniversary of the event is being appro-
priately observed there. our dispatches
fully show. While this centennial celebra-
ton has not awakened nearly as much of
| general interest as did that of the signing of
the Declaration of Independence in &c, yet
the event is second only in Importance to
that great step which separated us irrevoca-
| bly, from England.
From IVA to 1884 the Congress of the
| Confederation had held together only because
| of the interest that each State had in sue
ceeding in whipping Great Britain; but when
| peace was declared and the end was gained,
there began to show discomfort that grew
I'm til there was little hope that any good
| fruit would come of the long struggle. Each
| State was afraid that some other State would
| get some advantage; the people were poor and
| discontented; the Congress had powers
| except to recommend measures to the various
| States, which they could accept or nullify at
| will; revenues could not be raised to pay the
expenses of the government and the late war;
commerce could not be regulated; there was a
never ending series of disagreements between
the Congress and the States;there was no pub
lie credit and treaties could not be made with
foreign povers;-in short, the government
was weak and the outlook unpromising. Then
it was that the constitutional convention was
suggested; and the sentiment in its favor
gradually strengthened during the period
from the close of 1854 to the breaking out in
Massachusetts of the rebellion led by Daniel
Shay, who resisted taxes and mobbed courts,
when the matter speedily came to head,
Congress reluctantly giving its consent to the
meeting.
The convention assembled early in May,
1857, and continued in secret session until
the 18th of September, when the Constitution
was reported and signed, and resolutions rec
ommending it's adoption were passed unani-
mously. Then these patriots, having done
great duty, departed to their respective homes
and awaited the verdict of approval from the
ton would not satisfy all, but they presented
it, as they say, las the result Of spirit of
amity, and of that mutual Difference and con-
cession which the popularity Of political
situation rendered Indispensable" For the
next nine months the document was discussed
in all its bearings, and in June, 1888, it
ratified by nine States, and in March, 1885,
became the organic law of the land.
That the members of the convention
builded better than they knew is evidenced
practically unchanged during century, and
has stood successfully such strains as were
never thought Of It is as good now for
sixty millions as it was for the five millions of
inhabitants when it was adopted. 1t has done
all the things named in the preamble, chief of
which was 'to secure the blessings of liberty
to ourselves and our posterity;" and it
stands to-day a monument to the wis
dom of the American statesmen who founded
a nation which in one century of existence
leads the world. Mr.. Gladstone speaks of it
"as the most remarkable work known in mod
ern times, to have been produced by the hui
man intellect at single stroke $50 to speak,,
in its application to public affairs" And
again he said ''The American Constitution
is the most wonderful work ever struck off at
a given time by the brain and purpose of
man." 1t supplemented the Declaration of
independence, and after the revolutionary
war was the next great step toward the forma-
ton sof that perfect union which has made
America the greatest nation on the earth.
The celebration of this event is not gener-
ally observed throughout the country, like
the centennial of '76, because it fails to ap-
peal to the enthusiasm of the public, the
worb of the convention being purely delibe-
ratica and entirely lacking in the exciting
elelnents that characterized that Of the body
that promulgated the Declaration of Inde-
pendence; but there has been awakened
widespread interest in the matter by the
press and magazines of the country, and much
information on the subject of how the Consti-
tuition was made has been brought out, which
will tend to make us revere the trainers of the
document and appreciate the Constitution it.
self. OF the former it may be said that they
were "wise beyond their day and generation"
and of the latter that it now stands for the
best in human government.